Robbie Coltrane is set to star as a disgraced comedian in a TV drama inspired by the historic sex cases that involved Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris.
The Scottish actor will portray fictional character Paul Finchley in the series titled ‘National Treasure’ about a has-been TV star who is thrust back into the limelight after he is accused of raping a woman decades earlier in the 1970s.
According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Coltrane – who became a household name when he starred in the popular British TV series ‘Cracker’ during the 1990s – will be joined by Julie Walters on screen with the actress set to play the fallen idol’s wife in the series.
‘Birdman’ actress Andrea Riseborough is in negotiations to appear as their daughter, and Ade Edmondson is said to be in talks to sign up for the Channel 4 show as Finchley’s former showbiz sidekick.
Filming will commence in Leeds in February, but insiders revealed the 65-year-old actor and the other confirmed cast members have been supplied with copies of the script for the Marc Munden-directed series, which has been penned by ‘This Is England’ screenwriter Jack Thorne.
The real-life Operation Yewtree investigation has questioned multiple people who are in the public eye over claims of sexual assault since it was commissioned by the Metropolitan Police Service in 2012.
The most famous case was that of BBC TV presenter and comedian Savile – who died in 2011 before any charges could be brought against him – which saw 169 people claim they were sexually assaulted by him during his years as a much loved British celebrity.
Children’s TV presenter and painter Rolf Harris was also investigated and found guilty – for twelve counts of indecent assault that took place between 1968 and 1986 on four female victims then-aged between eight and 19.
He is currently serving a five-year and nine month sentence in HMP Stafford.
DJ Neil Fox is another notable star who has been acquitted of any wrongdoing after being investigated by Operation Yewtree.
Robbie Coltrane to star in Jimmy Savile-inspired drama
